Olivia Munn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olivia Munn
Munn in 2018
Born	Lisa Olivia Munn (1980-07-03) July 3, 1980 (age 45) Oklahoma City, U.S.
Education	University of Oklahoma (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1999–present
Spouse(s)	John Mulaney ​ (m. 2024)​
Children	2

Lisa Olivia Munn (born July 3, 1980) is an American actress. She started her career as a television host for the gaming network G4 and on the show Attack of the Show! (2006–2010). Later, she became a correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 2010 to 2011.

Olivia Munn has acted in many TV shows and movies. She played a main role in the HBO drama series The Newsroom (2012–2014). She also appeared in the Apple TV+ series Your Friends and Neighbors (2025). In films, she has starred in The Predator (2018), Buddy Games (2019), Love Wedding Repeat (2020), and Violet (2021). She also played the superhero Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and lent her voice to The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017).

Olivia Munn married comedian John Mulaney in 2024. They have two children. She is a strong supporter of women's rights and has spoken out against anti-Asian harassment. She was recognized as one of Time magazine's Women of the Year for 2025.

Early Life and Education

Lisa Olivia Munn was born on July 3, 1980, in Oklahoma City. Her mother, Kimberly Schmid, came to the United States as a refugee in 1975 after the Vietnam War. She met Olivia's father, Winston Munn, in Oklahoma. Olivia has two brothers and two sisters.

When Olivia was two, her parents divorced. Her mother then married a member of the United States Air Force. The family moved to Utah and later to Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Japan. Olivia spent many of her growing-up years in Japan. She remembers using humor to help her family during difficult times. She would imitate teachers or act out movie scenes to make everyone laugh.

At 16, Olivia's mother divorced her stepfather. They moved back to Oklahoma City. Olivia finished high school at Putnam City North High School. She then went to the University of Oklahoma. There, she earned a degree in journalism and also studied Japanese and dramatic arts.

Exploring Her Career Path

Starting in Television and Film

Munn at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo

Before moving to Los Angeles, Olivia Munn worked as an intern at a TV news station in Tulsa. In 2004, she interned at Fox Sports Networks. She worked as a sideline reporter for college sports. However, she found this experience uncomfortable because she felt she was trying to be someone she wasn't.

Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles. She got a small role in a horror film called Scarecrow Gone Wild. She also appeared in a music video for the rock band Zebrahead.

In late 2005, Olivia began acting in the TV drama Beyond the Break. She played a teen surfer named Mily Acuna for two seasons. Olivia enjoys surfing and still practices the sport.

Becoming a TV Host

In 2006, Olivia Munn won a contest to become a co-host for the popular G4 network show Attack of the Show!. She started co-hosting with Kevin Pereira on April 10. G4 was a channel about video games. Olivia admitted that video games were not her strongest area. However, she was confident in her technical knowledge. On the show, she also hosted a segment called "In Your Pants" with journalist Anna David. This segment answered questions about relationships from viewers. While working on Attack of the Show!, she also hosted Formula D, a show about American drift racing. She left Attack of the Show! in December 2010.

Olivia also appeared in the film Big Stan (2007). She played a receptionist named Maria. She also had a role in the film Insanitarium, playing a nurse.

Breakthrough with The Newsroom

Munn at the 2013 Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards

Olivia Munn had roles in the films Date Night (2010) and Iron Man 2 (2010). Actor Robert Downey Jr. praised her for her ability to improvise lines.

On June 3, 2010, Olivia joined Comedy Central's The Daily Show as a correspondent. She appeared in many episodes until September 2011. She even returned for a short segment on host Jon Stewart's final show in 2015.

In 2010, Munn was a guest star on NBC's comedy-drama Chuck. She played a CIA agent. In 2011, she appeared in the comedy film I Don't Know How She Does It. In 2012, she had a main role in The Babymakers. She also appeared in Magic Mike and the sitcom New Girl.

Olivia Munn became very well known for her lead role in Aaron Sorkin's drama series The Newsroom on HBO. She played Sloan Sabbith, an economist who worked for a fictional news network. The show ran for three seasons from 2012 to 2015.

In 2014, Olivia was a correspondent for the Showtime documentary series Years of Living Dangerously. She interviewed Washington State Governor Jay Inslee about reducing CO₂ emissions. She also became a main promoter for Proactiv acne cleanser products.

Recent Projects and Advocacy

Acting in Major Films

From 2015 to 2018, Olivia Munn voiced the character Phoebe Callisto in the Disney Junior animated series Miles from Tomorrowland. In 2016, she was cast as Elizabeth Braddock / Psylocke in the superhero film X-Men: Apocalypse. The movie was a big success, earning over $500 million worldwide. That same year, Olivia had a main role in the comedy film Office Christmas Party.

She also starred in the TV series Six as a CIA operative. She appeared as a guest judge on America's Got Talent in 2018. Olivia also starred as a biologist in the 2018 science fiction film The Predator.

More recently, Olivia Munn had a lead role in the Netflix romantic comedy Love Wedding Repeat (2020). She also starred in the film The Gateway (2021). In this film, she played a single mother whose social worker helps her when her ex-partner returns from prison.

In 2025, she began starring in the Apple TV+ drama series Your Friends and Neighbors.

Speaking Out for Important Causes

Olivia Munn has used her public platform to speak out against anti-Asian harassment and attacks. This became especially important after the COVID-19 pandemic. She participated in discussions with organizations like Stop AAPI Hate and RISE.

She has also worked with PETA. In 2011, she helped PETA free a sick elephant from a touring circus. Her blog posts encouraged fans to contact the USDA to help the elephant. In 2013, she helped PETA share new videos showing cruelty to animals on Chinese fur farms. She also appeared in the 2021 short film Save Ralph, which is about animal testing.

Personal Life and Interests

Olivia Munn is a black belt in taekwondo.

From 2014 to 2017, Olivia was in a relationship with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In 2021, she began seeing comedian John Mulaney. They welcomed their son on November 24, 2021. Their son's middle name, Hiệp, honors Olivia's Chinese-Vietnamese heritage. Olivia and John married in July 2024 in New York. Their second child, a daughter, was born in September 2024.

In March 2024, Olivia Munn shared that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer the previous year. She had four surgeries, including a double mastectomy. She described the cancer as "aggressive" but said it was found early enough for her to have treatment options.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos

See also

In Spanish: Olivia Munn para niños